Civic body issues notices to 27 illegal shrines

The civic body has begun issuing notices to illegal shrines in the city and suburbs, which have been constructed on public places such as roads, pavements or government land.

So far, 27 notices have been issued to shrines in the western suburbs.

On Friday, wards in the western suburbs issued notices to shrines at Bandra and Khar Road (West), Andheri (East), Vakola, Santacruz, Bandra and Khar Road (East).

“Notices have been sent as per the Supreme Court and state government directives,” said Sudhir Naik, deputy municipal commissioner, zone 3.

Notices issued to caretakers of these shrines (temples, mosques and other places of worship) ask the concerned authorities at these shr-ines why the religious structure should not be demolished.

The structures will be demolished if they are constructed after 1964 and obstruct projects such as road widening, vehicular traffic or if they are located on land meant for public amenities.

If the structure has been built before 1964, it will be treated as tolerable after submitting all related documents to the concerned ward office.

The state government on October 4, 2010, issued a notification asking all municipal bodies to take action on illegal shrines and submit a compliance report on the same, following which, the BMC took action.

In January 2011, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) prepared a list of 729 illegal shrines in the city and suburbs to be demolished.

Accordingly, the civic body began its action in November 2010 by conducting a ward-wise survey of illegal shrines across the city and suburbs.